The European Forum For Electronic Components and Systems (EFECS) had taken part in an online format from the 23th until the 25th of November. COVID-19 did not stop any stakeholders from discussing Our Digital Future. The PLANtRA project representatives were always present behind the project booth and tried their best to make the communication as real as possible. We would like to thank our visitors and hopefully see you next time, not virtually! The main focus of this year?s programme was on ?Our Digital Future? for a green and competitive Europe along the Electronic Components and Systems value chain in Europe! Undertaking, the European Commission and EUREKA - have joined forces to bring all stakeholders together on 23-25 November 2021 online, to discover, network, learn and shape Our Digital Future and to discuss the best way to manage the ECS impact for a green transition of digitalization! Moreover, Horizon2020, Horizon Europe, ECSEL, KDT-JU, 2022 EURIPIDES2 and PENTA CALL funding instruments were discussed. On the first day, we could listen to interesting keynotes and panel discussions regarding future trends and it was closed with the booth and space for networking. The second day has started with high-level strategies with a strong focus on the Green deal objectives. For that, the PLANtAR Project was invited to present itself and to be part of a panel discussion regarding the ?Transition to green deal technologies?. The conference closed on the third day with an interesting SME session and a presentation about the activities of the scientific councils of AENEAS, INSIDE and EPOSS. It was a pleasure for PLANtAR to be a part of such a Digital adventure!

Miniaturized monitoring sensor systems for plants and agriculture

[PLANtAR]

Affordable, highly integrated, biodegradable solutions

The PLANtAR project focuses on the development of affordable, highly integrated, miniaturized sensors and tightly meshed sensor networks (including nano-sensors and paper-based microfluidic devices), and applied intelligence in three areas: precision agriculture (field/urban) , Greenhouse/indoor breeding and farm monitoring. In addition, it aims to reduce the environmental impact and decrease cost of these technologies by ensuring that the sensors are biodegradable and can be ploughed into the soil after their use.
Expertise across the value chain

The PLANtAR consortium brings together partners from across the entire value chain. These include highly experienced technology and component providers as well as leading suppliers in agricultural applications and infrastructure with direct contact with end-users. The extensive mix of industrial partners features a high number of small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups with know-how in sensors and other relevant technologies. Several research institutes with expertise and excellent market access are also involved. With this breadth of knowledge and resources in agriculture and semiconductor and sensor technologies, the consortium will strengthen knowledge transfer and cut development time and costs leading to a faster time-to-market.
Growing market opportunities

By minimizing risks and speeding development of new sensor technologies and communication networks, PLANtAR’s collaborative approach will deliver competitive offerings to the environmental sensor market – at both component and solution level. It will allow European companies to maintain or achieve market leadership positions and enable end-users to install low-cost sensor networks or expand existing ones.

Project Vision

PLANtAR aims to develop cost-efficient, miniaturized, networked and partly biodegradable monitoring electronics to help tackle one of the world’s biggest challenges: producing enough food over 9 billion people while also protecting the environment. In order to solve the dilemma between high-yield intensive agriculture and environmental protection, cross-sector approaches are required, with digitization playing a key role.

Project Goals

New kinds of electronic sensors, actuators, networks and other digital technologies can increase efficiency and improve environmental sustainability in many agricultural applications. Whether in fields, in greenhouses or in the new domains of indoor and urban farming (which now accounts for 20% of global food production), digital technologies have the potential to enable holistic monitoring of production and growing conditions. Sensors can provide timely warnings of plant stress and / or diseases. By measuring factors such as soil moisture, EC and content of nitrogen, ammonia, surface temperature, solar radiation, CO2 and detecting pests and plant pathogens, digital technologies can help significantly increase yields per cultivated area. And at the same time, they can assist in reducing water, energy, fertilizer and pesticide use.